Understanding Aging and Function in Older Cancer Survivors Using Digital Tools
Official title: The Pacific Aging and Cancer Studies (PACS): An Infrastructure Advancing the Use of Digital Biomarkers and Related Technologies for Research on Functional Aging and Survivorship in Cancer
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11292895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates a system to better understand how older cancer survivors experience aging and changes in their daily function after treatment, using modern digital health devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | May 4, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $647,061 |
| NIH project number | 4R33CA280994-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future studies stemming from this infrastructure would be cancer survivors aged 65 and older who are interested in tracking their health and function using digital devices.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not cancer survivors or are under 65 years of age would not directly benefit from this specific research infrastructure.
What this research studies
As more people live longer after cancer, many older survivors face challenges with aging and their physical abilities. Cancer treatments can sometimes speed up the aging process, leading to new difficulties and a faster decline in independence. This initiative builds a special platform to collect detailed information over time from older cancer survivors using wearable devices and other smart technologies. By gathering this data, we hope to gain a clearer picture of how functional aging progresses in different individuals, considering their specific cancers and treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier identification of functional declines and more personalized support strategies for older cancer survivors, helping them maintain independence longer.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of digital technologies in aging and cancer research is growing, dedicated infrastructures like this are novel and crucial for fully realizing their potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winters-Stone, Kerri M — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Winters-Stone, Kerri M
Related research
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Digital tools to study aging and function in older cancer survivors
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.